Folding machine



Sept. 8, 1931. T. J. ABBOTT FOLDING MACHINE Filed Deo. `8, 1925 Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS J. ABBOTT, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T CLUETT, PEABODY & CO., INC.,

' OF TROY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK FOLDING Application filed December This invention pertains to pressing and folding machines of that class employed in the commercial production of collars, relating particularly to means for accurately posi- ,5; tioning the blank upon the table in respect to the presser plates for mortise-locking the ends and for uniformly distributing the main folds. It is very important in making the mortise-locks on the collar ends that the blank be accurately positioned on the bed plate in order that when the primary fold is made it will be through the intersecting point of the secondary folds.

The objects of the present invention are to provide means whereby in forming mortiselocks on collars the primary folds will at all times be made in accurate relation to the main or secondary folds; to provide means for correctly positioning the blank on the bed in respect to the folding plates; to` provide positioning means attached to the movable folder plates for positioning Vthe blank in respect thereto; to provide an adjustable gauge upon the folder plates; to provide pri'- mary folding means conveniently accessible for the operator; to provide a flaring ledge upon the curved portion of the folding .plates for uniformly turning the corresponding edge of the blank into a smooth seam; and to provide a device which will be simple in construction and eoient in operation.

In order to attain these objects I have de-l vised abutments mounted upon kthe movable elements of the` folding machine for assuring the correct position of the blank preliminary to the making of `the primary and secondary folds. One of these abutments is fixed in position on the movable elements while the other is so attached that it can be angularly or laterally adjusted. Also there is mounted upon the folder plates at the points where the front edges of the collar are curved sloping ledges for distributing the folds uniformly, whereby the main folds along the edges are even and unwrinkled.

One embodiment chosen to illustrate the genus of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a plan view of the folding machine with parts broken away; l

Fig. 8 is a view looking at Fig. 2 .from the right-hand side;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the gauge plate; i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the left hand edge of the collar blank;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but after the fold is made; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the finished collar.

These pressing and folding machines are in general of well-known construction, comprising a frame heated bed l mounted in the table, a die supporting arm 2, and folder plates 3 and t. Ordinarily these two folder plates are practically identical yin construction, except that one is adapted to fold the right end of the collar blank, and the other is adapted to fold the left end of the said blank. Each folder plate comprises a thin metal sheet 5 contouredon its inner edges to conform with the corresponding edges of the blank and die. This sheet is secured to the under side of a heavierv metal member 6 having a raised overhanging lug 7 slotted at v8 to be adjustably connected with one of the folder bars 9 by means of clamping bolts l0. Some suoli actuating means as eccentrics 11 engage with the folder bars, whereby the folder plates are oscillated over the table surface inr the direction of the arrows. Cleats l2 overlie the folder bars and are bolted to the table to hold the bars from lifting but'allowing free sliding movement.

The points of the collar blank at the juncture of the front-and bottom edges are mortise-locked by means of primary. folding claws 13 pivoted toV plates 6 and actuated by heat insulating handles 14 extending laterally to points where theyA are readily aC- cessible to the operator, each claw being automatically returned to normal inoperative position by a tension spring l5, all as described in copending application of SanfordV L. Cluett filed on even date herewith.

ln order to position the collar blank upon the table in respect to the folder plate an abutment 16 is riveted to the plate to abut against the bottomedge of the collar and a n gauge 17 is also attached thereto to abut against the top edge of the blank. For the purpose of positioning these abutments for collars of varying sizes, the gauge is adjustably connected to the plate by having formed therein an elongate slot 18 cooperating with clamp bolt 19 to permit angularl or lateral adjustment. One end of the gauge is turned to, provide a flange 2O for seating thereon a face plate Q1, these being movable relatively to each other by rivets 22 on one member engaging and sliding in vertically elongated slots 23 formed in the other member.`

il certain style of collar provides a greater space for the tie and accessibility to the collar button, and such a style is. made by cutting away` a portion of the blank on the front edge of the blank between the bottom edge. and the top edges. At the top. of the cut there will be formed a curved edge 24 which when the margin 25 is folded. will buckle unless at the saine time this. edge is spread out uniformly. Provision is made foi properly folding the curved portion during the same operation which folds the marginal edge 25 by fixing at this point on the folder plate. a raised ledge 26, decreasingly flared toward its ends. As the folder plate carrying this, ledge moves over the marginal edge to form the main folds it spreads this curved portion out evenly, thereby causing a uniform and even edge fold tov be made.

It will be understood from the above description that these positioning elements will be similarly placed upon the left folder plate, and that they will function in a like manner to fold the left edge of the collar blank.

In the operation of the device the collar blank is inserted between the tivo folding plates and positioned by the abutment 16 and gauge lfcarried by each folding plate. 'E he ciirved front edge 2li of the blank will be position adjacent to the curvedflared ledge L'G on the. folder plates and when said. plates are actuated by the cams this ledge tendslto distribute the marginal edge 25 into an even and uniform fold. This is due to the fact that the marginal` portion 25 of the collar (Fig. 5.)'rests on the rounded ledge Q6 when the collar is placed in position on the bed plate and when the body ofA the collar is clamped doavn by the die plate on arm 2 this ledge holds the concave margin 25 of the collar in a raised position, the margin inclining upwardly from the broken line in Fig; 5to the free edge of the margin and curving over the ledge in a direction parallel to the edge.V Thus the concave margin assumes a` shape somewhat like a section of a conical surface. lVith the concave margin in this position its fullness is distributed along the? margin in successive uni-form minute pleats" or ripples when the margin is folded over theldie plate by the folding plate car rying the ledge 26, instead of causing the reza/ivo fullness to bunch up in random folds as would occur in the absence of ledge 26.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction herein described, but that various changes may be made therein such may. occur to those fainilar with the art, without departing from theV spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. folding machine for making mortis-e.- lock folds having a primary fold at a corner of the article and curved secondary folds along at least one of the edges meet-inc' at the corner, the machine having a. beu, a presser movable toward and from the bed, means for making a primary fold at the` corner of 'he article, and folder plates movable over the bed to form the secondary folds, abutments` on the said ple es for positioning; the article, and a ledge on one of said fielder plates` for distributing,the` fullness along one of the curved secondary folds.

2. A folding machine formaking mortise lock foldsl having a primary fold. at a corner of the article" and curved secondary` folds alongat lealiA one of the edges meeting at the corner, the machine having a, bec, a` presser movable toward an d from thebed, means for;

making af intimal-y foldA at the corner of the article, and folder plates movable over the bed toA form the secondary folds, abutn'i-cnts on the said plates for positioning the article, and a. flared shoulder on the. plates for. distributing the fullness evenly alongv the curved secondary folds. 'i

3. A folding machine formaking mortisc lock folds having' a intimary fold at` a corner of the article` and` curved secondary folds along at least one of, theV edges meeting the corner, the machine. having a bed, a

presser` movable toward: and from the bed, means formaking a. primary fold at the con ner ofthe article, and; folder plates movable over the bed-.to forni the secondary folds, and a shoulder on saidV plates for causing one of the curved: secondary folds to be evenly turned by evenly distrilin-,ting the` fullness along the fold'.

4. A folding` machine for making mortiselock folds having a primaryfold at` acorner of the article and curved secondary folds along :it least one ofthe edges` meeting at the corner, the machine having a bed, a presser movable toward and from the bedr, means for makinga prima fold at the cor,- ner of the article, and folder plates movable over the bed to form thesecondary folds, and i sloping ledge on said plates forcausing one of the curved secondary folds to be cir-cip lyv turned by evenly diatril'iuting the fullness along the fold.

A folding` machine for making mortiselock folds hav-ing a primary fold :it acorner ofthe article and: secondary folds along? the edges meeting at the corner, the machine having` a bed, a presser movable toward and from the bed, and folder plates movable thereover to form the secondaryv folds, positioning abutments on the folder plates for the article, and a claw movably connected to the plates for forming the primary fold, said claw having a handle extending laterally therefrom.

6. A folding machine for making mortiselock folds having a primary fold at a corner of the article and secondary folds alongk the edges meetingat the corner, the machine having a bed, a presser movable toward and from the bed, and folder plates movable thereover to form the secondary folds, positioning` abutments on the folder plates fol` the article, and a claW movably connected to the plates for forming the primary fold, said claw having a heat insulation handle extending, laterally therefrom.

Signed by me at Troy, New York, this 27th day of November, 1925.

THOMAS J. ABBOTT. 

